Draw-bar.



W. GRAHAM.

DRAW BAR.

APPLICATION FILED 11116.10, 1907.

904,865. Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

W1 TNESSES g 11 WzZZa'avaQn I $4 '/I liar/10y WILLIAM GRAHAM, OF VIRDEN, ILLINOIS.

DRAW-BAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed August 10, 1907. Serial No. 388,028.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Virden, in the county of Maooupin and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draw-Bars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in draw-bar attachment for railway cars.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of a car, showing attached thereto, at its ends, a pair of my improved drawbar attachments. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a single-piece supporting frame construct-ed in accordance with the present invention, and showing the draw bar in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3, 3, Fig. 1. Fig. a is a perspective view of one of the draw-bar guides.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the bottom of a car near each end of which is secured a supporting-frame 2.-

It is to be understood that there is, preferably, employed two draw-bar attachments upon a single car, and aseach attachment is.

similarly constructed, it will only be necessary for me to specifically describe one at.- tachment.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the supporting frame 2 is formed from-a singlepiece of metal and comprises parallel, vertical guide sides 3, 3 integrally connected at their outer end by a transverse portion l. The vertical transverse portion or outer end l is provided with a horizontal aperture 5. The rear ends of the vertical, parallel sides 3 terminate in integral, horizontal feet or plates 6, which are, preferably, turned or twisted, at 7, whereby said feet or plates (3 are positioned atsubstantially right-angles to the vertical sides 3, 9. This forming of the converging feet or plates 6 at right-angles to'the sides 3, constituting the body of the frame, can be easily accomplished while the frame is in a heated condition, or if it is desired, the entire frame can be cast .in a mold: It is to be noted that by reason of the outwardly-extending or diverging structure of the feet 6, a more rigid and substantial connection is provided for bracing the .guide 15, see Fig. 1-.

body of the frame against lateral strain.

. Each foot or plate 6 is provided with, preferably,- a plurality of vertical apertures 8, through which extends any suitable fastening means, as for instance, bolts 9, for securing the'supporting frame, preferably, to the under face of the car bottom 1.

The draw-bar comprises a flat body portion 10, terminating in an integral stem or shank 11. -The shankor stem 11 is, preferably, threaded, at its outer end 12, and threaded upon said shank, is a nut 13. The nut 13 is slidably mounted between the vertical sides 3, andit will, therefore, be seen that said sides constitute guiding means for said nut. \Vhen it'is desired to position a nut upon the shank 11, it will be necessary to do so prior to the securing of the attachment to the car body, as it will be obvious that the nut 13 must first be positioned between the sides 3 and the draw-bar rotated to thread the shank 11 into the nut. The body 10 is of greater width than the diame ter of the shank, and, consequently, the inner end of the body normally engages the front face of the transverse all or portion l, said wall or portion l, constituting a stop for limiting the inward sliding movement of the draw-bar. Interposed between the wall and transverse portion 4: of the supporting frame, and the nut 13, is a yieldable member. preferably, a helical or coil spring 111-, which coil sp'ring acts as a yielding butler, taking up any sudden strain or pull excrled upon the draw bar. It will also be noted that this spring 14 normally exerts an inward pressure upon the nut 13. thereby holding the inner end of the body portion 10 of the draw-bar against the frame.

The outer end of the body portion 10 of the draw-bar is provided with an llllglt This guide 15 comprises an outwardly'bulgod body 16, which body is provided with'oppositely-extendiug. apertured flanges 17. By means of the flanges 17, any suitable fastening means may be employed for securing the guide to the bottom of the car. The draw-bar slides freely within the outwardly-bulged body portion 16 of the guide. This guide also assists nut 13 in preventing lateral strain on or displacement ofthe draw-bar, although the draw-bar has a free sliding movement. The nut 13 may be adjusted for controlling the tension of the spring 14.

Any suitable coupling means, as for instance, 18, may be secured to the outer end of the body 10 of the draw-bar. v

By reason of my peculiarly-constructed frame, as well as the other cooperating parts of my attachment, I have produced a very durable and efiicient structure, as the same is constructed for resisting sudden strain, while permitting easy attachment of an engine or other hauling means thereto.

What I claim is: A draw bar attachment, comprising a frame constructed from a single piece of sections with said side wal1s,.and secured to the bottom of the car body, a draw-bar having a screw-threaded shank which is inserted through the opening in the front wall and projects beyond the rear portions of the side walls, a coiled spring on said shank, a squared -nut on the threads of the shank, said nutadapted to slidably engage the inner faces of said side walls, and the spring having its opposite ends contacting respectively with said front wall and said nut, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM GRAHAM' Witnesses:

ALTER MoFARLaNE, LUKE CUMMINGS. 

